New Acting Personnel Director
On January 21, 2025, Mayor Brian DePeña appointed Caryl García, who has been assistant city attorney at city hall, as “acting” director of personnel. I did a bit of research to find out who she is and her qualifications, and all I found were more controversies.
She has an office at 60 Island St., Lawrence. There are ten reviews and, except for one claiming that she “helped me with the purchase of my home,” the rest of them only referenced that she is a “very nice person,” that “she explained everything very carefully,” etc. No one made any reference to the type of Law she practices.
Later, I found out that the city attorney’s office had hired her to handle the upcoming legalities involving housing.
When the authorities were questioned as to why the Director of Personnel was not posted on the city’s website, the response was that the issue with former director Michael Owens had not been completed and cannot be posted at this time. Does that mean we may have an “acting” personnel director for quite a while? I thought Owens was gone.
Attorney García has already appeared before the City Council this week. She didn’t say much because she’s so new in that position, but I also didn’t hear any councilor complaining that her contract as “acting” was signed by only the mayor thus making it an illegal contract because the city attorney did not sign it, as they claimed in William Castro’s case.
That brings me to former mayor Dan Rivera when he signed Roy Vasque’s contract as “acting” police chief without the city attorney’s signature. No one said it was illegal.
I did not hear complaints when Mayor DePeña appointed William Castro as “Provisional” police chief on January 12, 2024. That letter was signed only by the mayor.
Or, more recently, Melix Bonilla as “acting” police chief.
Last week, I referred to people who can’t read because they read words but lack reading comprehension. Read the above carefully, and you will realize that I’m not excusing Mayor DePeña or favoring William Castro. This is just an exposé of hypocrisy and ignorance impeding us from dealing with what matters.
Most of all, this ensures we select intelligent people to run for office. They may be able to ask questions (written for them to repeat like a parrot) during a meeting. But are they smart enough to be trusted in their decision-making affecting this community?
Citizens’ list to interview police chief candidates
Yes, I volunteered a long time ago to be on the list. Now, I’m not so sure after all the things that are happening. You can find the list on page 2. I don’t want to be a token or a seal of approval, but this city’s citizens’ opinions are being played with. My time is valuable, and I want it to be respected.
During the Lawrence Redevelopment Authority (LRA) meeting last Wednesday, Attorney Richard D’Agostino represented Oneida Aquino, one of the presenters, when the LRA requested proposals to build on properties they don’t own.
This is the only case where two presenters were going for the same property, the other being MACE Construction, represented by Maximo Guerrero.
The instructions for filing a proposal were very clear by the LRA. There is a long list of items, such as a detailed development plan that includes land use, architectural design, landscape design, and sustainability features. Financial Capability: Evidence of financial stability and capability to undertake the project; proposed funding sources and financial plan, including project budget, funding sources, and pro forma financial statements. Many other details were missing from MACE’s proposal.
According to Ms. Aquino, the irregularities began from the onset, starting with NOT following the open meeting Law and attempting to open the proposals prior to completing the required number of days. This was brought to light by former City Councilor Richard Russell’s protest. In this case, they heeded the warning and postponed opening/accepting the bids to a later date.
The citizens’ committee that had been established scored her presentation a few points higher than MACE’s. But besides getting a lower average score and so much information missing from his proposal (which should have rendered him “disqualified”), he was chosen.
Clear case of “looking the other way” to see if they could get away with it.
Ms. Aquino hired a good Lawyer, Richard Mr. D’Agostino, and presented her case before the LRA board. Once he left, Mr. John Carras, a consultant working with the LRA, explained that the committee scores are just to give the board an idea of who they should select.
Something that has not come up is that Attorney Brian Corrigan is also Maximo Guerrero’s attorney, which creates an enormous conflict of interest.
The LRA used those people that with their good intention offered their time to be a part of that committee and I fear that the committee for the selection of the Police Chief will also be a farse.
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